After five days of only being let out as far as the river, Tommy felt a lot better. This also meant he had a lot more energy. So of course he's up before Wilbur and Techno and already dressed for the winter.

Wilbur can't tell him no to go out and gather with him now, can he? Not if he's already prepared to leave right?

Techno gets up next and grabs the box of cereal from Tommy. They sit on the floor and eat their breakfasts together.

"You seem brighter today, feeling better?"

He stops shoving cheerios in his mouth long enough to answer. "Mostly yeah!"

"Mostly? What's still bothering you?"

"My sides kinda hurt still but don't tell Wilbur, he won't ever let me go out if he knew." He puts his bowl back on the worn shelf, trying to hide his wince at having to reach up.

"Toms don't get your hopes up, you really scared him. I'd be surprised if he let you back into town so soon." Techno warns him.

"Oh I know, but he was gonna check the traps today. Thought maybe he'd let me join him."

"You must be really bored of sleeping all the time if you want to go out and forage." The older teases.

Tommy nods, "I am Techno, I really am."

Techno laughs and picks up a basket of their dirty clothes and leaves for the river. Tommy quite liked getting to hit the clothes against rocks and shake the dirt loose into the river. So he was slightly disappointed to not be chasing after his brother to help. Today however, he needed to be here when Wilbur was up. Otherwise the boy would leave without him.

Wilbur wasn't one for sleeping in, but since Tommy had been doing nothing but sleeping he started liking sleep more. Tommy didn't mind, it meant there was someone there to help him through all the headaches that followed colliding with asphalt.

He's using some of the well water to brush his teeth when Wilbur reaches for an apple on the top shelf. The woman's wallet had a decent amount of money, and though Tommy felt bad about it, it was always nice to have their small cabinet full.

Wilbur told him it was okay to feel a little bad about stealing, he said it meant he was a good kid. Techno told him that sometimes you have to be a little mean to get by.

"Where's Techno?" He yawns and leans against one of the weak walls.

"Washing clothes." Tommy tries to sound as chirpy as possible, hoping it would help convince Wilbur he felt better.

"And you're not with him?" He laughs. His brother sounds sad even when he laughs. The child tries to not blame himself because Wilbur hates it when he does that. He knows they don't have the best situation going on, but really the orphanage was not much better. It felt to Tommy like trading a bed for freedom.

"Well, I wanted to go with you today!" He pouts slightly and looks up at Wilbur. "Please? I'm all better and really, really bored."

Wilbur sighs defeatedly, Tommy smiles wider knowing that's definitely a yes. "All better huh, no headache, your sides are okay? All over night?"

Tommy dodges the questions. "I'm well enough to go hunt with you today!"

"You can if you don't do anything wild okay? No chasing around small animals and you stay with me." He stares at Tommy very seriously waiting for an answer.

"Deal." Tommy gets up and grabs a basket before running out the door.

Wilbur joins him moments later carrying a spear. "I'll go check the traps, you go out and find dandelions and basil. I'm gonna cook whatever's in these traps tonight."

Tommy nods and starts to look around for herbs. The ground was icey and the clouds were gray. It looked like snow would fall any second. The trees gave them good cover if the snow was light so Tommy wasn't worried.

Tommy doesn't bother looking too hard for herbs. He knows Wilbur just wanted him to have something to do. The ground was mostly dead from the cold. Though he did pick up every bright yellow dandelion he found. He lets the basket slide up his arm and rubs his hands together.

He goes deeper into the woods where he knew Wilbur would be checking one of their traps. Once he's close enough he's more careful where he steps. He sees Wilbur, with his glasses on and face focused as he re-ties a trap. Tommy goes to put the rabbit in his basket. After he moves his dandelions aside.

"Wilbur, it's kinda hard to find plants in the winter when everything's a little y'know- dead." Wilbur makes a noise to show he's listening, but keeps focusing on the trap. Tommy continues, "Why don't I go into town and-"

"No, Tommy." Wilbur cuts him off with a huff.

Tommy pulls the basket in front of his chest. "What? Why? I'm fine see," he puts down his basket and starts climbing a low tree. "Would an injured person be able to do this?" He clings to an extended branch upside down and tilts his head back to smile at his brother.

"God, Tommy get down from there! You may be feeling better but you definitely shouldn't push your luck." Wilbur lectures him and picks up the boys basket, holding it out for him.

"Sorry Wil, I just really miss Tubbo. He's probably worried! Please Wilbur?" He climbs down, more carefully than he went up. "I'll be so careful I won't make anyone annoyed with me." He takes the basket from Wilbur and then follows behind him gingerly as they go to the next trap.

"You're not annoying Toms." He stops for a minute, surprised to hear Wilbur say that. "Don't think it was your fault you got attacked. It's the people who hurt a child who are the ones at fault. Not you for trying to find your brother." Wilbur turns to him. "Techno's going back out for more work tomorrow. If you can walk all the way in town with him without feeling dizzy or anything bad, you can stay out for the day."

"Yes! Victory for Tommyinn-" He throws his arms up, and is about to mimic a crowd cheering when Wilbur interrupts.

"If Techno has any reason to think you might collapse he will drag you all the way back here. You've been warned." He puts Tommy's arms down gently and smiles.

"I'm fine Wil, I promise." He laughs.

"I know Toms, it's just hard to let you be alone out there." His brother sighs, and crouches down at the next trap. "I know how much you miss it though. Plus, I only told the newsman you'd be out a week. Wouldn't want you to lose that job."

"I'm so excited, I'll go start the fire okay?" He starts to run back when Wilbur grabs his shirt and yanks him backwards. Tommy seizes and tries to bite back a whimper when it reminds him of the man throwing him down.

Wilbur notices. "I'm sorry, I-I'll tap you next time?"

Tommy's heart is beating very quickly now, the events coming back to the front of his mind. He whimpers again and buries his face in Wilburs chest. He feels his brother lean down slightly to hold him back.

"I'm f-fine Wil, it's okay." He stutters out, trying to reassure his older brother it wasn't his fault.

Wilbur starts to sway, still holding him in the woods. "You're not, but thats okay."

Tommy thinks he's really spent too much time in these woods because he's finding it really hard to let go. He doesn't want to hurt anymore. He doesn't want to be scared, but he is.

He never had parents, unlike Wilbur and Techno. So until they ran away no one had ever cared about him as much as his brothers. Even then moments like this where he felt safe were few and far between. He sobs harder into Wilbur.

"I'm sorry Toms, I wasn't thinking I just needed to stop you to tell you to walk. I didn't-" He puts his hands on Tommys shoulders and looks him in his teary eyes. "Look, this trap is empty, wait here and we'll go start dinner together okay?"

Tommy wipes his eyes and stays right where Wilbur left him. Occasionally sniffling.

Wilbur walks back over and takes Tommys free hand in his, swinging it between them trying to get Tommy to smile again.

The blond giggles and if it weren't for the tears still stinging his face, he'd forget it ever happened.

They take a pot of water over by the river, Wilbur cleans the rabbit while Techno starts a small fire beneath it. It's getting cold enough now that there's chunks of ice flowing through the river. Tommy is grateful it flows rapidly by their house, because that makes it never completely freeze over.

Techno hums when he successfully starts a fire and Tommy crouches next to him to add more sticks. It's past noon when they add the rabbit, but they always cooked with fire earlier in the day. Techno said it's because people wouldn't worry about the smoke as much.

"Wilbur?" He smiles up at him. Wilbur looks up from his work and blinks at Tommy.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for earlier, I know I'm not... easy to take care of." The young boy smiles up at him before running off to get more sticks. He feels embarrassed about crying earlier so he hopes Wilbur doesn't ask him to explain. The blonde isn't worried anymore after he sees Wilbur's eyes go soft and he looks away once again.

"It's no problem Tommy. Not to me, not if it's you."